Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Challenge, General Inspiration, Homework Assignment

Mission (seemingly) Impossible

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

Great Friday morning to you! How are you doing? Did you survive the week? Did you thrive this week? Somewhere in the middle? Well, it is Friday, and, no matter what, you made it through!

This week I have written to you a lot about the overwhelming-ness of our profession. I have talked a lot about focusing on what is important and letting some of the non-priorities sit on the back-burner. Today, I am going to ask you to add something to your load and your “to-do” list.

Seems kind of hypocritical, I know. Just stay with me. I think this lines up with what I have been talking about this week. I hope, at least.

I want to give you an assignment. It is has four parts to it, but one main goal. It is going to seem impossible, but I know you can do it. I want you to change the world.

Yes. Change the world. I am pretty sure you can do it. No. I know you can do it.

I know you are one person. I know the world is big. I know the problems in the world are often looming just on this side of disaster. I know you are just a tiny cog in the big machine of the entire world. But you can change things. I want you to do just that.

Let’s take a little movie break before I give the details of your assignment. Kevin Spacey playing an awesome movie teacher in Pay It Forward does a much better job of explaining how to change the world than I can, anyway,

If you haven’t seen this movie, get it and watch it. It is your extra credit assignment. 🙂

The theme of the movie is simple. One person can truly affect the world and kindness will always win over the negative forces in this world eventually. I know that it can seem a little idealistic, but I don’t think it is very far fetched at all. Just like a pebble thrown into a puddle affects the whole puddle, the splash of one person being different than everyone else can cause those around them to change, those who were changed will change others, those people will change others, and so on and so on.

So, I want you to change the world.

“Okay. DearTeacherLoveTeacher, how do you think I am going to change the world?”

I am glad you asked. It is time for your assignment. Before you read the assignment though. play this song by the Kid President and then read while it is playing. It makes a nice theme song for the assignment, AND he is one of the greatest examples of the pay-it-forward-attitude I have ever heard of! I shared this song last Friday, but it is worth a second share.

Changing the World in Four Easy (slightly impossible) Steps

Change Your World– Make a plan to do one thing to de-stress your school life. Make a plan to do one thing every week that you can do to change your stress level at school. It could be taking a break for for five minutes somewhere in the week and just breathing and remembering why you love to teach. It could be taking one morning coffee break in the week when you are not thinking about school work. It can be choosing one thing to “let go” each week that is a non-priority. But this part of the assignment is a plan, and then you have to follow it.
Change Another Teacher’s World– Make a plan to do one encouraging thing for another teacher each week, and it has to be a different teacher each week. It can be hand-written notes (which is my favorite to do). It can be to lend a hand in a time of need. It can be a random act of awesome like bringing something in for a teacher (like chocolate or coffee). Just do something every week for a teacher. Try to get to everyone in your school throughout the year. Just one a week. You can do that!
Change a Student’s World– Make a plan to do one majorly encouraging thing for one student a week. Much like the teacher part of the assignment. Do something like write a note, have a conversation that is not related to grades or content, give them a random piece of candy, something out of the blue. This is not the normal things we should be doing, this is more over the top and random. It is surprising how much this can change someone’s outlook. You can be an over-achiever and do this for more than one student each week, but do at least one. YOU HAVE TO PLAN TO DO THIS EACH WEEK. If you don’t plan, it will fall to the wayside, Jot a note for who and what to do on a sticky note each week or put a coded reminder to do this in your lesson plans. You have to plan for it though.
Change the World– Do a random act of kindness for someone outside of school. This has to be big, random, and something that someone won’t forget. I am talking Pay it Forward big. Do something that will change how someone is feeling about people and the world. Something they could not do themselves. Then ask them to do the same for others. Kindness will change the world. It is the only way the world will get better.

After you have had some time to think, come back here and share your plans for 1-3. Don’t share #4. That one should be personal. Don’t share it on the internet. It is more for you and the person you help than for everyone. If you talk to much about it, you take away from the kindness factor! I do want you to share 1-3 so that we can all hold you to your plans.

Oh, and more extra credit…share this post with all of the teachers you know. Give them this assignment. Let’s change the world!

So, this is your mission, if you choose to accept it. What do you think? Are you going to change the world with me?

You are awesome. You are changing the world already. This is just a push to be more intentional in doing so. I know you can do it! You are amazing! Keep on teaching and keep on changing the world, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

PS…If writing notes is a part of your plan to change the world for teachers and students, there are some really fun printable Awesome Notes that you can write on the back of in the Dear Teacher/Love Teacher Teachers Pay Teachers Store. They are a big hit with teachers and students at my school. The students love getting them and teachers love using them. Just a little plug. There are 10 notes in the mega pack, and there is a free sample of the notes in the store. The mega pack is only $2. They are not necessary for your assignment, just a fun little way to do it. 🙂

Oh, and the Kindness poster/graphic is available as a part of the Motivational ABCs Poster/Word Wall collection in the TpT store, as well.

Cheer Up, General Inspiration, Picture Note, Poster/Graphic, Thank You!

Letter from the World (that you may never get)

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

I know that we all struggle through the tough patches of working in a somewhat thankless career. More than that, we are often scrutinized and demeaned by people who just don’t understand what we do. That can be hard, but we take it in stride and keep pressing on, even if no one notices. That is what makes us awesome. That is what makes you awesome!

I have put words to the unspoken thanks of students in the past, but I thought this morning I might give words to the unspoken thanks to someone else. I know this letter will probably never happen, but I am sure that there are those out there who definitely feel this way. So here is a letter to us from the world at-large.

Know that it is all true, even if we seldom hear it. Read it, smile, and know you are awesome. Share it with other teachers and lets get this Encouragement Revolution kicked into high gear today!

You are awesome. You are amazing. You are making a difference, even if it is only in the background where very few see it. You are making the future, and the world thanks you! I thank you! Thank you, Teacher! Keep on teaching!

Love, Teacher

PS…I know I keep talking about it, but I am so excited about these posters and how they can motivate students (intrinsically) to keep moving and pressing on! The Motivational ABCs Poster/Word Wall are available in the Dear Teacher/Love Teacher TeachersPayTeachers Store…check it out, if you haven’t had the chance! The image in this post is one of the printable posters in the set. Oh, and the posters are on a deep discount sale this week! You have $2 to motivate students, don’t you? 🙂

General Inspiration, Get Psyched!, Pep Talk, Perseverance

The Attitude of Edison

Posted on October 23, 2013August 20, 2015 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

Don’t give up. That is basically all that I want to tell you this morning. Just don’t give up. Don’t stop.

I know that the weight of teaching is heavy. We push and push, but the push back is often more intense.

We can see what our students need more than they can. You know your students. You know how close they are to understand what you are teaching them. You know how close they are to becoming more complete self-learners.

But the resistance makes it hard to keep moving.

You are beat up. You are tired. You are exhausted. You have very little left to give.

It would be easier to drop back and punt…you can try again another day.

Don’t stop. Don’t give in. Don’t move back. Keep pushing. Keep going!

You don’t see it from where you are, but you are so very close to success with your students. You see how close they are, but guess what? You are SO CLOSE to getting them there. I know it is hard, but don’t stop!

Find your reserves. You have some hidden energy and strength left. Find it. Use it. You are seriously almost there. Just give a little more. You can do this. I know you can because you are awesome!

Two of my favorite quotes of all time are from Thomas Edison:

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

You are on the verge of success. A miracle is on the horizon. Chase it. Go for it. You are almost there! Push on. Further on and further in. You’ve got this, you amazing Teacher, you!

Take on the the attitude of Edison today. Don’t give up. Don’t let apparent failures stop you. Failure never means you can’t do something, it just means you need to keep trying and find some new ways.

You don’t have to stop. You have this. You are close. Keep going and keep moving forward!

Your students will watch you, they will learn to do the same thing. They won’t give up and snatch defeat from the jaws of looming victory. They will keep trying until they get it…just like they saw you do.

Don’t give up!

You are an amazingly awesome teacher! You have what it takes. You have the strength and fortitude. Prove it today! You will see success, so keep pushing on and keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

PS…I know I keep talking about it, but I am so excited about these posters and how they can motivate students (intrinsically) to keep moving and pressing on! The Motivational ABCs Poster/Word Wall (or Growth Mindset ABC’s) are available in the Dear Teacher/Love Teacher TeachersPayTeachers Store…check it out, if you haven’t had the chance! The image in this post is one of the printable posters in the set.

Challenge, General Inspiration, Pep Talk

One Thing

Posted on October 22, 2013October 22, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

As I talked about yesterday, we have so much to do, think, and and be throughout our each day. I am feeling the weight of the pull of the thousand things that are tugging at me today.

I am trying to take my own advice and try to make sure that my focus is on the students and what they need. The hard part is deciding what those things are! Even if I move my focus to students and their needs, there are still so many things to choose from. Picking a direction and running at it is important, but knowing which direction is best each day can be a challenge.

The idea of just finding “one thing” comes to mind. One thing, one focus, one direction is all that we need. We just have to make a decision. How do you do that?

Reflect.

Where did you get to yesterday in your content? What do your students seem to be lacking from prior content? What are the learning/thinking skills that they need most? What strategies are they responding to the most?

Get all of this into your mind. What is the one thing that stands out the most? What is the biggest student need across the board? What is the one area that needs to most work or most support?

That is your “one thing,”

Make this deficit area, thinking/processing sill, or content topic your goal and focus today. Make everything else revolve around it. Let the noise of all of the other thousand things be in the background as you work through this one thing that students need most.

Will you have to answer to why you made this choice? Sure. Might it cause conflict? Yes. But no matter what you choose to focus on will cause other things to fall to the wayside and cause the same kind of drama. You just have to make sure the thing you choose is student-focused. That is all that really matters.

Remember, when you are asked, “Why are you doing _______________?” Your answer better have “students” at its core!

Students are our goal and focus. Don’t be afraid to make a stand for them. It will all come out in the end. Students and their needs…their one thing each day…will never disappoint or let you down. The short-run may hold conflict, but that conflict won’t outlast the joy of students learning and learning how to learn in your classroom. That trumps all and will win the day in the end!

You are awesome and amazing! I know you know how to make “one thing” choices…don’t be afraid to! I have your back and so do all of the other teachers out there. Student learning is never a bad focus. Stand firm and take a stand today with it! Never fear it! Keep on finding those “one things” and teach on, Teachers!

Love, Teacher

General Inspiration, Hope for Teachers, Pep Talk, Theme Song

Freedom [when you let it go]

Posted on October 21, 2013October 21, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

Great Monday morning to you! I know, there are very few times in the thick of the school year that we view Mondays as necessarily great…we are often being pulled from every angle and feeling like we are ten seconds from being ripped into pieces. Monday only makes it worse because we look forward to the pulling starting over fresh and new. It doesn’t have to be this way!

How do we keep ourselves together when everything wants us to fall apart, especially on a Monday? That is what today and this week’s theme song is all about. The best part is that I get to share one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists with you, and you probably have never heard of him or the song. Get ready to be a fan.

Click play and read on (just in case you are new and didn’t know 🙂 ). When you are done, you might want to go back and watch the video. It is pretty cool.

Teacher, you have so much on your plate. You have things that need to get done. You have expectations to meet. You have classroom management issues to deal with. You have parents to call. You have plans to plan and implement. You have profession development to go to and show evidence of using and applying. You have test to write, give, get data from, reflect on, and plan to use to differentiate and raise student achievement. You have books to read, papers to grade, and Common Core to implement.

You have people constantly looking over your shoulder telling you what to do and who to be as a teacher. You have parents who don’t think you are handling their child correctly. You have administration analyzing your every word and move in the classroom. You have curriculum specialists giving commentary on every strategy and technique you use and giving you tips and pointers on how do do things differently. You have ever changing district, state, and federal mandates and standards that are to be followed to the “t” with little variation.

You have a life outside of school. You have pressures from other places. You have family. You have friends. You have a life…at least you try to have one.

You have students. Students who need you to be more than just a implementer of plans. They need you, the person. They need your heart, soul, and mind to help them navigate through the storms of life and education. They need a mentor. They need a teacher. They need you.

Students are why you do what you do. Students are the key to education. Students are the ends and the means. Without them there are no standards, tests, data, professional development, or lesson plans.

Students are the heart of it all. Students are your heart. Students are why you are where you are. Students make you a teacher.

You are pulled and yanked in a thousand directions every day. You feel that weight the most on Sunday nights and Monday mornings. The waves of the life of a teacher are constantly trying to pull you under. The current is strongest at the beginning of the week.

What do you do? How do you combat this? How do you go against the flow that wants to drag you down? How can you make a Monday feel great and something you look forward to seeing?

One word: STUDENTS,

We have to learn to to be brave enough to run into the flames of the fight to let every decision we make be completely centered on our students. We have to train ourselves to let things go for the sake of our students. They need to be the answer to every question that starts with “Why did you…” Students, their hearts, and their minds need to be key. Few people know them like you do, and you need to stand up and say what you think will work best for them.

It is hard, though. It is hard to let go of some of the anxiety and fear of not meeting the expectations of others. Not meeting deadlines. Having to answer those hard “why” questions. I can’t tell you how to do this for you. I can tell you, though, that it is worth it.

I have been teaching long enough to know that expectations, standards, and mandates change. The current of education moves with the latest and greatest ideas and research, but often it is a circular pattern that always comes back to best practices that have been around for a long time. Tap into that and you will see that it always comes back to some of the same themes. Follow those themes and you can keep up with the changes (I will try to write about some of those themes later).

I am not saying to rebel or not follow guidelines and mandates. I am definitely not saying that. I am just saying that you will start to remember why you love being a teacher when the students return to being your focus for all that you do. And if you get off from the expectations set for you, make sure that your answer has something to do with the specific needs of your students. That is what is key and paramount.

Let go of the fear. Let go of the anxiety. Let the students be the reason for all that you do. Make them the goal. Open up your heart and mind to letting them come first. You will start to feel the freedom that comes from that. You will see that everything comes back around.

You may have to answer questions or be “fussed” at from time to time. Don’t let that worry you. One day, when a student comes back and tells you the influence you had on them and how that changed their life, what are you going to remember? Are you going to remember the lecture you were given or are you going to remember why you became a teacher? I think I know the answer.

Let things go and let yourself make choices in your classroom and with your time that come out of love and care for your students. I promise, when you let it go it will come right back to you. You will make it through and be a better teacher for it!

Don’t be afraid to let go!

You are awesome! You are making such a difference in the lives of your students. Keep going. Don’t act out of fear but act out of love and concern for your students. You will never regret it! You are amazing! Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

PS…In case you missed the announcement yesterday, I am very excited to announce the Motivational ABCs Poster/Word Wall now available in the Dear Teacher/Love Teacher TeachersPayTeachers Store! Check it out, if you haven’t had the chance! The image above is one of the printable posters in the set.

Announcement, TpT Dear Teacher Store

Motivational ABCs – The Success Mindset

Posted on October 20, 2013October 20, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

“Brain-based learning” and “brain research” are some of the current buzzwords that I am sure you hear a lot of, and possibly use yourself. I have been on the brain-based bandwagon for the last year, and I have to say that understanding the teacher-learning dichotomy and how the brain fits into it has helped me become a better teacher, and I have done a lot of research and reading to keep me on that path to better teaching.

One of the concepts that keeps coming up the more I read, research, and experience in my classroom is that of mindset. Our students need to have the mindset of success and achievement so that they can push themselves deeper and deeper into understanding what we are to teach them. This kind of mindset helps them continue on when learning becomes difficult. It helps them celebrate small successes, and this helps them push even harder for more achievement.

This mindset is something we need to instill in our students.

This is a process that takes time and intentional effort, but it is worth every second of time and ounce of effort when you start to see your students take ownership and start learning on their own. It is a beautiful thing to watch and be a part of! I think we all love watching those light bulbs turn on for our students.

One of the things that we can do to help instill this in students is to surround them with success-minded thoughts and ideas. This year, in my classroom, I put up over thirty quotes based on this. The students have really been reading them and this has helped build some of that mind-set in some of them. I wanted more than just quotes. I wanted some little things that might get lodged in their brains and help them keep the mindset growing.

That is where the Motivational ABCs come in. I made these images to print as 8.5×11 sized posters to put up around my room (I print on colored paper to help them stand out). This is just one more thing to draw my students attention in and help them continue to foster the success mindset. I realized that other teachers may be looking for something similar, so I wanted to make them available on the Teachers Pay Teachers store.

There is a poster for each letter of the alphabet and two extra motivational posters. Each poster has a color and black&white version. Each word has a “definition” in the context of a success mindset.

A-Ambition
B-Belief
C-Certainty
D-Determination
E-Effort
F-Fortitude
G-Greatness
H-Heart
I-Integrity
J-Judicious
K-Kindness
L-Learner
M-Mastery
N-Noteworthy
O-Original
P-Patience
Q-Quality
R-Resourceful
S-Success
T-Tirelessness
U-Unrelenting
V-Vigorous
W-Wide-eyed
X-X-factor
Y-Yet
Z-Zeal

You can print these up as posters, as I have, or there are a number of different ways to use them. These are the jpeg files, so you can use a printing service to make larger posters. You can print them smaller and use them as notes you can write on the back of or hand out. There are a number of different uses that you can probably think of…I won’t limit your imagination!

You are awesome! I know that you do all you can to instill the mindset of achievement. Your students will thank you later! Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

Uncategorized

Kid President…and a Pinterest Contest Update

Posted on October 18, 2013October 18, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

A couple of weeks ago I shared a pep talk for teachers (and students) from the Kid President and announced a Pinterest Contest. Today I saw that the KP was “songified” (along with a new video)…and since I was to announce the Pinterest Contest today, I thought it was perfect timing.

There is some good news and some bad news with the Pinterest Contest…so let me share the Kid President video first. Then I will talk about the contest. Why get straight to the point when I can distract you first?? Maybe you will be less mad. 🙂

Sing it, Kid Pres!

Uh oh, is the distraction over? Okay.

The bad news first. There was a glitch with my email (or user error), and most of the email entries were lost the the internet ether. I do apologize! I did have a way to pick the winner, but I have no way to contact said winner.

SO…

I need everyone who entered to fill out the contact form again. I did notice that some people that followed on Pinterest and set up the board with pins never sent the form in, anyway. So I need the 41 of you who tried to enter to fill out this form again. I am sorry. I will pick a winner on Sunday night.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Thank you for your patience!

You are awesome! You are making the world better! Keep making it even better and teaching your students to do the same! Oh, and keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

General Inspiration, Pep Talk, Poster/Graphic, Teacher Poem

Your Teaching Heart

Posted on October 17, 2013October 21, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

Your heart is for your students. They don’t always see that.

You wear your heart on your sleeve. It gets bumped and bruised.

You teach your heart out every day. It is on the floor by the end of most days.

Your heart breaks for some of your students. You can’t always put those pieces back together.

Some students take a little bit of your heart with them when they leave. You gladly let them have it.

Your heart bleeds for your students each class. They know, and they do need that from you.

Your heart aches when they don’t get it. They feel it, too, and they keep trying for you.

You make your heart available. The students take that to their heart.

Your heart is for your students. Their heart will come to you.

Don’t give up!. Pour your heart out. It is worth it! You are awesome and amazing! Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

PS…The Pinterest winner will be announced tomorrow!

Note from Student, Pep Talk, Perseverance, Poster/Graphic

Letter from Student (that you may never get): What you never knew…

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

This is a letter that you may never get, but that does not make it any less true. We often never know our influence. Don’t forget that everything you do matters. Keep not giving up! Keep doing everything you can to reach ever student that you can. You never know how much that they need all that you say and do…even if it just making them complete assignments or retaking a test. It all matters, and it will come back to them…even if you never get to see it or hear about it!

You are awesome! The difference is being made. Keep on being relentless! And, as always, keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

Pep Talk, Perseverance, Poster/Graphic, Theme Song

Standing Outside the Fire

Posted on October 15, 2013March 27, 2019 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

Well, I am a day late, but it is still early in the week and I bet we could all use a theme song for it…especially those who had a day off yesterday. So let’s get to it. This song is going to be a “blast from the past” for a lot of us, but for some it may be the first time to hear this song. Whether it is new to you or a reminder of more youthful days, this song is a great theme for teachers and one we should hear and think about.

Click play, get through the ad if there is one, and then read on.

Teacher, like it or not, we are heroes. We fight battles, we run into danger, and we do the impossible. If not literally, we all do this figuratively. We take on the world of our students and help them through it and get them to the other side into adulthood and the future.

Not all teachers take this seriously. Some teachers look at this as more as a job than a calling and desire. They come in, survive the day, and put up with their students. They tow the line. They don’t step on toes. They teach what and how they are told to teach. They do little connect to students and see the student as the goal…the content is the goal and teaching it is success.

These teachers “stand outside the fire.”

That is not you, Teacher.

You dance within the flames. You take what you do and what you are in stride and with confidence. You know teaching is more than, well, teaching. It is connecting. It is getting to know your students. It is understanding your students. It is understanding the teaching and learning dynamic. It is teaching skills outside of your subject area. It is taking risks. It is being bold. It is being brave. It is taking on the fight and being the hero that your students need you to be.

You are not content with the status quo. You are not happy with just teaching your standards. Your students need more. You need more.

You are not afraid to step on toes when it comes to the needs of your students. You know what they need, you know how they learn, you know what they are capable of and their potential. You make choices for them, not for who is watching.

You get to know their families. You help their parents and guardians know how to help them learn more at home. You allow their family input on ways to help the student in the classroom. You make it a team effort and don’t try to do it all on your own.

You look for help from the teachers around you. You are not afraid to try new things in your classroom. You look around and see what is working and not working and then seek out strategies from others for whom things are definitely workings. You are not afraid to change.

You are also not afraid to reflect. You take a look at students and what they seem to be learning and not learning, and then you make adjustments in you and how you are teaching. You look at data. You are not afraid of data. You let data help you make instructional choices because it gives you a view of what your students need.

You are one of the great ones, Teacher! You do not stand outside the fire. You are in the thick of it. You are dancing around with the flames jumping all around you, and you love every minute of it! You are a hero. You are a teacher. Your students need you!

You are awesome and amazing. Your “fire dance” is making a difference. You are making a difference. Keep on teaching and keep on running into the fire, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

PS …The poster/graphic this morning is one of a line of printable posters that I created and made available on the TeachersPayTeachers Store. They will be called “Motivational ABCs.”